Lagos State House of Assembly member representing Surulere Constituency I, Desmond Elliot, has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primary election in his constituency, insisting that he remains in the race and will challenge the process through the party’s appeal mechanism.
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Elliot, who lost his bid to secure the APC ticket for re-election, said the primary that produced Barakat Odunuga-Bakare as winner was allegedly marred by irregularities, intimidation, violence and disenfranchisement of his supporters.
The primary reportedly ended with Odunuga-Bakare polling 11,385 votes, while Elliot scored 270 votes. The outcome has continued to generate controversy within the party.
Reacting to the result, Elliot said the process could not be accepted as conducted, alleging that some of his supporters were harassed, intimidated and prevented from voting in certain wards.
“The only person who can ask me to step down is the party. If the party says Desmond, go down, that is when I will step down because I’m a party person,” he said.
He added that the APC had provided an avenue for aggrieved aspirants to seek redress, which he intends to pursue.
“But the party has also, in its magnanimity, given us an opportunity to appeal,” he said.
Elliot clarified that his earlier statement about withdrawal was misunderstood, explaining that he only withdrew his agents from the voting process and not his candidacy.
“We were appealing, and as I say, it is not a do-or-die affair. I’m here to serve the people,” he said.
“So, I’m not going to say any more than this, other than the fact that we are not accepting this process. I am not withdrawing.
“Why I said withdraw then is that I’m withdrawing my agents from participating in the voting process. But we are appealing the process. We are definitely appealing.”
A video had earlier circulated online showing Elliot addressing supporters and agents at a polling venue, where he complained about intimidation and the exclusion of his supporters from voting areas.
In the video, he said, “In all zones, they’ve been intimidating and stopping us. I want to officially announce my withdrawal from this particular race.
“This is my ward. If you go outside, those are my people, and they’ve not been allowed. So, I am officially announcing my withdrawal from this race. Good luck. Thank you.”
The video was widely interpreted as Elliot formally pulling out of the contest. However, the lawmaker later pushed back against the interpretation, saying his action was an act of statesmanship and restraint, not a concession or surrender.
“My decision was one of statesmanship and restraint, not a concession, withdrawal, or surrender of my candidacy,” Elliot wrote on his verified X account.
“It is therefore misleading and inaccurate for anyone to interpret or portray my remarks as stepping down from the race.”
A statement issued by his supporters also said Elliot’s remarks were meant to express concern over the alleged deliberate exclusion and intimidation of his supporters, not to concede defeat.
Elliot further alleged that several people were injured during the exercise, saying there were videos of supporters seeking medical attention.
“Nobody was killed. But a lot of people were really maimed. There are videos of people going to the hospital,” he said.
He also raised concerns over voter verification and accreditation, arguing that the process was compromised.
“The only way you can verify if a card is fake is when they go through the verification process and allow them that process,” he said.
The APC has yet to officially respond to the allegations, but the party’s appeal committee is expected to review complaints arising from the disputed primary.
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